Submitted 2nd December 2005
Popularity 672
The United Nations Information Service in Geneva is the voice of the United Nations Office at Geneva which informs the world about Geneva`s unique role in international relations.
On 15 November 1920, an enthusiastic crowd welcomed the delegates of the First Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva. A ceremony, at the foot of the statue of Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the same day, recalled that the choice of Geneva as the headquarters of the first political international organization in history is not insignificant, and refers to the famous ‘Spirit of Geneva’ that the first years of existence of the League of Nations have praised. Having installed its Secretariat in the Palais Wilson, the League of Nations made a durable mark on the urban landscape of Geneva by constructing the Palais des Nations in which the League was installed in 1936.
The efforts of the League of Nations did not however succeed in removing the major obstacles to peace which occurred in the early ‘30s and to finish, it was powerless in the face of the Second World War. On 26 June 1945, the Representatives of fifty countries meeting in San Francisco adopted the Charter of the United Nations, founder of the new international organization. The United Nations Organization was born officially on 24th October 1945 when the signatory countries ratified the Charter. In spite of its political failure, the legacy of the League of Nations at the same time appears clearly in a number of principles stated by the Charter and in the competencies and experiences developed in the area of technical cooperation : the majority of the specialized institutions of the United Nations system can in fact be considered the legacy of the work initiated by the League of Nations.
MultimediaThe UN TV and Radio Section covers major events in Geneva including briefings, press conferences and other activities. It also provides a limited number of photographs.
Permanent MissionsPermanent missions of the Member States that comprise the United Nations are established to organize and coordinate their participation in the work of the Organization.
Palais Des NationsThe Palais, whose construction is the object of the competition, is intended to house all the organs of the League of Nations in Geneva. It should be designed in such a way as to allow these organs to work, to preside and hold discussions independently.
Accreditation & SecurityPermanent missions of Member States, permanent observer missions and permanent observer offices accredited to the U.N Office at Geneva should notify the Chief of the Protocol and Liaison Service, of any arrival or departure of diplomatic members.
Artworks-The CollectionThe UNOG art collection as a whole is unique. Whilst most museums concentrate on certain historical periods or particular schools of art, UNOG is not bound by such limitations. Here at the Palais des Nations the collection reflects an infinite variety.
Conference On DisarmamentThe Conference on Disarmament (CD), established in 1979 as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, was a result of the first Special Session on Disarmament of the United Nations General Assembly held in 1978.